Bed



p 22, 1964 T. NELSON 3,149,349

BED

Filed Aug. 30. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A 7709MB T. NELSON Sept. 22, 1964 BED A 7' TORNE) Sept. 22, 1964 Filed Aug. 30. 1961 T. NELSON BED 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. TED NELSON BY 44w, M1,.

A T TOPNEV p 22, 1964 T. NELSON 3,149,349

I BED Filed Aug. 30, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 56 so 7%] :l 24 [2 FIG. 7

" gvs INVENTOR.

TED NELSON --54 u BY h \8 M iW-nJ ATTORNEY P '1964 T. NELSON 3,149,349

BED

Filed Aug. 30, 1961 5 Sheets-$heet 5 FIG /0 INVENTOR. TED NELSON A T TORNE Y United States Patent BED 2 d L Calif Ted Nel on 8633 Patterson Pass 1. ea ivermore,

8 Filed Aug. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 135,075

3 fiiaims. (Cl. 5-66) This invention relates generally to a bed, the bed portion of which can be adjusted to assume various aspects, and more specifically to a bed which is sectionally and/ or as a unit tiltable to various positions by manual or power means. Beds of this type are particularly useful for institutional use, such as hospitals, or in any c rcumstance where the occupant may be placed in any desired posture with little or no effort on the part of the occupant.

Various types of beds which are tiltable to various positions have been devised in the past, especially for use in hospitals, rest homes or the like, to enable the bed patient to assume a variety of positions eithenfor comfortpr therapy and to assist a doctor or nurse lll admllllstllllg to the patient. Such prior beds have been either manually or power operated, but generally they have been limited in range of movement or in the number of positions which they were capable of assuming, and have been diiiicult if not impractical for a patient to mount and dismount either with or without assistance.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bed portion adjustably mounted on a frame for sectional pivotal movement to a wide range of positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the frame.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bed which may be operated either manually or by power or both, for assuming a wide variety of positions ranging from that where the occupant is positioned so that either his head or his feet may be below the horizontal, to that where the entire body of the occupant is placed substantially in a vertical position with the feet at about floor level.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bed having a foot board movable to approximately floor level to facilitate the patients mounting and dismounting the bed.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bed portion which is mounted on a frame and which is divided into at least three sections, all pivotally movable relative to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the frame.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bed portion pivotally mounted on a frame which is open at the foot end and pivotally movable in a vertical arc relative to the longitudinal axis of the frame for allowing a bed patient to get into or out of the bed without having to step up to or down from the bed portion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bed mounted on a frame and divided into a plurality of sections each having a mechanism operably connected thereto for pivotally moving each of the sections relative to and independently of each other and to the longitudinal am's of the frame.

The bed portion of the present invention is pivotally mounted on an open-ended frame and is comprised of a plurality of sections including at least three sections, a head section, a middle section, and a foot section, all of which are connected for pivotal movement relative to and independently of each other and to the longitudinal axis of the frame. T 0 provide such movement there is conventional apparatus which can be manually operated or otherwise powered. For purposes of convenience the mechanism required therein is herein described as being an electrically controlled hydraulic system, but the invention is not to be understood as limited thereto. A hydraulic cylinder is provided for pivotally moving and support- 3,149,349. Patented Sept. 22, 1964 "ice ing the head section relative to the middle section, and another hydraulic cylinder is likewise provided for pivotally moving and supporting the foot section relative to the middle section. A third hydraulic cylinder is provided for pivotally moving and supporting the middle section and the entire bed portion relative to the frame. The cyl nders may be actuated in any conventional manner, such as by an electrically operated pump and push button system, which does not constitute a part of this invention. There are other conventional systems for operating the bed portions, such as electrical and air systems as well as manual systems, and all are included herein. It is apparent that the positioning may be actuated either by the bed patient or by an attendant.

Since the supporting frame is open-ended and the bed portion is mounted on the frame for pivotal movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the frame, the bed may be actuated to allow the patient to assume a full sitting position or a full standing position facing through the open end of the frame. The bed of the present invention provides an added feature. As the foot section is lowered, a bell crank arrangement may be actuated to telescope the foot legs of the frame to decrease the height of the foot of the bed and position the end of the foot section at substantially floor level, thereby allowing the patient to step off or onto the foot board of the bed portion with no more than a very nominal step down from or up to the foot board. In this manner, a patient having a serious heart condition, for example, may mount to or dismount from the bed without strain or substantial efiort.

Amongst the advantages of the present invention is that it permits the hospital attendants to readily remove the patient from the room or ward substantially as with a Wheel chair, thus eliminating the need to transfer the patient out of the bed. This feature is of obvious importance in the event of an emergency which requires the rapid evacuation of a hospital Ward or room without causing unnecessary shock or physical upset or injury to the patient. This same feature permits the transfer of a patient from his ward or room to other locations in the hospital for various purposes without requiring his transfer from the bed to a wheel chair or employing other means of transportation.

Another object of this invention is to provide the hospital with a means to perform various functions on the patient with a minimum of movement and/or handling of the patient. For example, in many cases it is necessary to keep frequent and accurate recordings of the changes in weight of a seriously ill or disabled person. Present methods for securing weights of a patient unable to move about easily and safely require attendants to exert considerable strain upon themselves and upon the patient to secure the desired-record. By use of the present invention, the patient may be transferred to a vertical position by operation of the bed mechanism and in this fashion placed in a standing posture upon suitable scales located on the foot board, all accomplished without stress or strain on either patient or attendants.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, economy and ease of assembly and disassembly, also such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will fully appear and as are inherently possessed by the device and invention described herein.

The invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the same is illustrative of the invention and that the invention is capable of modification and change and comprehends other details of construction Without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGUREI is a top plan view of the bed of the present invention, shown with the mattress and mattress support removed;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view showing the bed in the normal horizontal position;

FIGURE 3 is a partial side elevational View showing the bed portion in the vertical position with the foot board substantially at floor level;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic side view showing the bed section in the normal horizontal position;

FIGURE 5 is a similar view with the bed section positioned for knees bent, reclining position;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic showing of the position where the bed section is in a single plane but tilted or pivoted with the head section below the horizontal;

FIGURE 7 is a similar view but with both the head and foot sections positioned below the horizontal plane of the bed section;

FIGURE 8 is another diagrammatic showing with the bed sections positioned in the form of a chair, with the foot section pivoted downwardly between the foot leg housings, with the foot legs suitably telescoped to position the foot board at substantially floor level;

FIGURE 9 is similarly a diagrammatic showing of the bed section pivoted as a unit to the vertical position with the foot legs suitably telescoped to position the foot board at substantially floor level;

FIGURE 10 is a front elevational view of the adjustable foot board removed from the bed;

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of the foot board removed from the bed;

FIGURE 12 is a side elevation of an alternate form of foot board side plate, and

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the foot board utilizing the alternate form of side plate.

Referring to the drawings, and especially to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is shown a bed embodying the principle of the present invention. An open-end frame 10, i.e., a frame which does not have a foot board or other transverse member between the leg members, is comprised of two side rails 11, a headboard 12, and a pair of foot leg housings 18, all suitably connected together to form a rigid, upright, supporting structure. One or more channel members 139 spaced inward from the front legs, extend transversely between side rails 11 and are rigidly fixed thereto, as by welding, to provide rigidity to the frame 10. Headboard 12 is provided with a pair of legs 14, each terminating in a conventional locking caster 16 for providing mobility as well as fixed safety for the bed frame 10. Slidably telescoped within each of the foot leg housings 18 is a leg 20 terminating in a conventional locking caster 22.

It will be observed that the foot leg housings 18 extend vertically above the horizontal plane of the side rails 11. Brackets 75 at either side of the frame are secured to the side rails 11 and extend upwardly, being co-extensive with and secured to the upper portion of the foot leg housings 18. In this manner the bracket 75, the foot leg housing and the side rail 11 are joined to make a unified, safe structure. The bed portion, generally designated 23, supports a mattress 120, which may be secured against displacing movement by brackets 122 which are shown in the drawings at the foot portion only. The bed portion 23 is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the longitudinal axis of frame 10 on pivot pins 56 secured at each end of bar 74 which extends transversely between the brackets 75. The bed portion is comprised of three planar sections, a head section 24, a middle section 56, and a foot section 54, pivotally secured together at their sides for pivotal movement relative to each other.

It is apparent that the mattress 120 may be made in three sections corresponding with the bed sections, and either joined or separate.

Head section 24 consists of three members fastened together, as by welding, to form a U-shaped frame. The open ends of the frame of the head section 24 are pivotally connected by pin means 30 to plate 51 with triangular plates 32 fixed in any suitable manner as by rivets, on said frame adjacent the open ends. The depending portions of the triangular plates 32 support, at either end, a transversely extending torque tube 26, which is secured thereto at each end by welding or any other suitable means. The entire assembly is mounted for rotation on pins 30. It is desirable to use a pair of supporting struts 27 which are secured in any suitable manner to the torque tube 26 at 28 and extend angularly outwardly at different angles for connection to the side channels of head section 24 by rivets 29 to thereby provide, amongst other things, rigidity to head section 24.

The middle section 50 consists of two right angle members each having an extensive depending side flange portion 51, which section is pivotally connected by pin means 30 at one end to the plate 32 in overlapping relation to the angle member of head section 24 for pivotal movement relative thereto. The other end of each flange portion 51 and the open ends of the foot section 54 are pivotally connected to bar 74 in overlapping relationship by pins 56 on the ends of bar 74, for pivotal movement of the foot and middle sections with respect to each other.

Foot section 54 is constructed in the form of a U-shaped frame with angle members similarly to head section 24. At either side of the open ends of the foot section 54 are depending plates 87 attached to the frame. Between the plates 87 is a transverse torque bar or tube 86. Rigidity for foo-t section 54 is provided by a pair of supporting struts 88 which are secured in any suitable manner to torque tube 86 at 89, and to the side members of foot section 54 by rivets 90.

The bed portion 23 may be pivoted as a unit relative to the longitudinal axis of frame 10 about the pins 56 at the ends of bar 74, or each of the respective sections of the bed may be pivoted relative to and independently of each other to enable the bed to assume various positions, some of which are illustrated in FIGURES 3 to 9 inclusive. The respective sections are pivotally moved and locked in position, preferably by hydraulically powered, electrically actuated cylinder and linkage arrangements for each section. The operation of the device described in the following paragraphs assumes the use of an hydraulically powered system, but any other suitable means may be employed to achieve comparable ends, whether such be manually powered or otherwise.

To lift the middle section 50, and also to pivot the entire bed section 23, a hydraulic cylinder 36 is pivotally mounted at 37 by a bracket 38 on a transverse member 34 extending between the side rails 11 of frame 10, said angle member 34 being secured to the side rails 11 in any suitable manner. The end of piston rod 49 of cylinder 36 is pivotally connected at 41 to lever arms 42 which are secured at one end, as by welding, to a torque tube 43, which extends transversely of frame 10 and has its respective ends mounted for rotation on the pins 45 in the side rail 11. The lever arms 42 are shown in V-shape to distribute the torque over a larger area, but obviously a single lever arm will sufiice. A pair of spaced parallel links 44 each have one end thereof secured to torque tube 43 adjacent the respective ends thereof at 47 to prevent relative rotation between the links 44 and the arms 42. The other end of each link 44 is pivotally connected to one end of each of a pair of links 46 by a pin 49. Each link 46 has its other end pivotally connected to the side flange 51 of middle section 50 by a pin 48. Thus, when it is desired to raise the middle section 50 or the entire bed portion 23, hydraulic cylinder 36, is actuated by suitable electrical means (no-t shown) to extend piston rod 40 to rotate the torque tube 43 through movement of arms 42 and thus rotates lever 44 in a clockwise direction, when viewed as in FIGURE 2. Links 46 will then push up wardly on middle section 50 and thereby raise it a distance determined by the length of the stroke of the piston rod 40 of cylinder 36. The result of the piston 40 extended to its full stroke is shown in FIGURE 3.

' In order to pivot the head section 24 relative to the middle section 50, a hydraulic cylinder 60 is pivotally connected by a pin 62 to a cross bar 58 which extends transversely between side flanges 51 and has its respective ends secured thereto in a conventional manner, as by welding. The piston rod 63 of cylinder 60 is pivotably attached by pin 64 to an arm 66 which is secured, as by welding, to torque tube 26. When hydraulic cylinder 60 is electrically actuated in a manner similar to cylinder 36, as previously described, to thereby extend piston arm 63, the head section 24 will pivot about pins 39 and will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to thereby raise the end of head section 24.

In order to pivot the foot section 54 relative to the middle section 50, a hydraulic cylinder 89 is pivotally connected by pin 72 to an arm 70 which is securely connected to a transversely-extending cross bar 68, which is similar to bar 58 and likewise attached at its respective ends to side flanges 51 of middle section 50. The piston rod 82 of cylinder 80 is pivotally connected to arm 84 which is fixed, as by welding, to torque tube 86. Therefore, when it is desired to rotate foot section 54 relative to the middle section 58 in order to lower it, cylinder 89 is actuated in a manner similar to cylinders 36 and 6%) but to retract piston rod 82, thus rotating foot section 54 in a counterclockwise direction about pins 56.

It is apparent that in order to reverse the direction of movement of the respective sections, the direction of movement of the respective piston arms of the respective cylinders is reversed by the electrical initiating means (not shown). It will be noted that cylinder 36 is laterally offset from cylinders 69 and 80 in order to provide smoother operation of the bed by preventing the shuddering which tends to occur when all of the cylinders are longitudinally aligned.

It is often desirable to have a bed patent assume a sitting or standing position, as shown diagrammatically in FIGURES 8 and 9 respectively, in order to assist him in getting into or out of the bed, or to afford him some relief from constantly lying on his back or for other therapeutic purposes. In such instances, it is desirable to have the footboard of the bed substantially at floor level so that the patient does not have to step up or down from a footboard which may be considerably above the floor level, but merely has to step 0E the lowered footboard. When the foot section 54 is pivoted to a vertical position, it is necessary that foot section 54 be shorter in length than leg housings 18 with the legs 20 extended in order to ensure that the leading edge of foot section 54 will clear the floor. When foot section 54 is pivotally lowered by retracting piston rod 82 of cylinder 80, as previously described, the legs 20 will be telescoped into leg housings 18 by the action of a bell crank 92 which is pivotally attached by a pin 93 to plate 75 and has one end 94 thereof extending through a vertical slot 95 in the leg housing 18 and engaging the top of leg 20. A linkage 100 is pivotally connected at one of its ends to the other end of bell crank 92 at 95, and has its other end pivotally connected to the side members of foot section 54 by a pin 101. A spacer 98 is secured between side flange 51 of the middle section 50 and plate 75 which is connected to the side rails 11 and housing 18 on each side of the frame 10. When the foot section 54 is lowered, pin 151 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, linkage 1% acts to exert force on bell crank 92 at 96, forcing the bell crank to pivot about pin 93 so that face 94 of the bell crank 92 no longer exerts a pressure on the top of the legs and permits them to be telescoped within the leg housings 18. This action raises the end 94 of hell crank 92 and allows leg 20 to be telescoped within housing 18 merely by the weight of the structure.

In the above-described manner, the foot board 110 is lowered to approximately floor level as the foot section is pivotally lowered to the vertical position, whether individually or as a unit with the bed section 23, thereby enabling the patient to easily mount or dismount the bed. When foot section 54 is pivotally raised from the floor, the reverse procedure takes place and legs 20 are extended being forced out of the leg housing 18 by the contact face 94 of the bell crank 92. Thus, the placing of the foot board 110 at substantially lioor level greatly facilitates the placing of the patient on the bed without necessitating lifting him up onto the bed, as was necessary prior to the instant invention. It is apparent that this same benefit is attained whether the bed portion is first moved to the sitting position shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 8 or to the vertical position shown diagrammatically in FIG- URE 9.

The various bed positions illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 9 inclusive, are assumed in the following manner. FIG- URE 4 shows the bed in its normal horizontal position.

In FIGURE 5, the head section 24 is pivotally raised about pivot pins 30 by actuating cylinder 69 to extend piston rod 63. The middle section 50 is pivotally lowered about pivot pins 56 by actuating cylinder 36 to retract piston rod 40. And the foot section 54 is pivotally lowered about pivot pins 56 by actuating cylinder to retract piston rod 82.

In FIGURE 6,'the entire bed portion is pivoted as a unit about pivot pins 56 in a counterclockwise direction with the head section 24 below the horizontal and the foot section 54 above the horizontal. This is accomplished by actuating only cylinder 36 to retract piston rod 40. Cylinders 6d and 80 remain in their neutral position to keep all three sections of the bed portion 23 linearly aligned.

In FIGURE 7, the head section 24 is pivotally lowered about pivot pins 39 by actuating cylinder 66 to retract piston rod 63, cylinder 80 remains in its neutral position to keep middle section 59 and foot section 54 linearly aligned, and cylinder 36 is actuated to extend piston rod 40 and thereby pivot middle section 59 and foot section 54 about pivot pins 56 in a counterclockwise direction.

In FIGURE 8, cylinder 60 is actuated to extend piston rod 63 and thereby pivotally raise head portion 24 about pivot pins 30, cylinder 36 remains neutral to maintain middle section 50 in the horizontal position, cylinder 80 is actuated to retract piston rod 82 and pivotally lower foot section 54 about pins 56 to the vertical position. At the same time, bell crank 92 will be rotated in a clockwise direction by the camming engagement between roller cam 98 and linkage 100 to thereby allow leg 20 to be telescoped within leg housing 18 and place the foot board at approximately floor level.

In FIGURE 9, cylinders 60 and 80 remain in their neutral positions to keep all three sections linearly aligned, cylinder 36 is actuated to extend piston rod 40 to rotate the entire bed 23 about pivot pins 56 until the bed reaches a vertical position, legs 20 will be telescoped within leg housings 18, as previously described, so that the foot board 110 is placed at substantially floor level.

It will be apparent that the bed portion positions illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 9, inclusive, are illustrative only, and that the bed of the present invention is capable of assuming an extremely wide variety of positions in varying degrees limited only by the dexterity of the operator in handling the controls, whether they are electrical, manual or otherwise powered.

While the bed portion 23 at the foot end is provided with a stop 112, this is merely to keep the mattress from sliding longitudinally and does not in any way provide a foot board. The foot board 110 is a separate assembly which may be attached or removed at will. In order to perform all of the functions required of a foot board, it should be adjustably secured along the side members of the foot section 54.

Referring now to FIGURES 10 and 11 the adjustable foot board 110 is illustrated separately and removed from the bed portion. This assembly Comprises a'member 114 which is capable of both safely supporting the weight of an individual and lightweight enough to be easily handled and adjusted by a nurse. The form illustrated is bound securely on at least three of its marginal edges by a metal band 115. The side portions of the band 115 extend inwardly a distance which Will provide clearance for the mattress 120 and for the bed covers thereon. The free inner ends 116 of the side portions are bent inwardly for purposes which will be apparent in the following description. Secured to the side portions of the band 115, as by welding or any other suitable means, are brace plates 122. The brace plates 122 areplaced so that the inwardly bent portions 116 of the band are adjacent the inner faces thereof, and extend beyond the same. The brace plates 122 are cut and formed to terminate in an inwardly turned hook portion 123 which is above the plane of the foot board 110. The faces of the hook portion 123 are substantially parallel and are spaced a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the web of the angle members of foot section 54. The hook portion 123 termimates and is spaced from the bent ends 116 a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the webs making up the frame of the foot section 54. The webs of the members 54 are shown in broken lines in FIGURE 11 which shows the locked position.

The manner of attaching, and removing, the foot board 110, as well as its adjustment along the side angle portions of the foot section 54 is simple and secure. The foot board may be attached to the foot section at any point along the longitudinal edges thereof by advancing the hook portions thereof at an angle toward the side angle members thereof, with the outer edge of the foot board angled toward the head of the bed. As the books 123 pass the depending Webs of the side angle members 54, as the foot section is moved to a perpendicular position with respect to the foot section 54, the hooks 123 engage the depending webs therebetween. When the. vertical position is attained the ends 116 abut the horizontal webs of the side angle members 54, locking the footsection in position. No movement of the foot board 110 from the position is possible because of the positive wedging action provided by this structure. To disengage thefoot board all that is necessary is to grasp the outer edge and rotate the foot board toward the head of the bed to disengage the hooks 123, and then lift off.

The adjustment of the position of the foot board 110 along the foot section does not require either removal of the foot board or disengaging the hooks from the depending webs. All that is required is to rotate the foot board 110 toward the bed head to release the wedging action'and then move the foot board toward the head or toward the foot of the bedto the desired position. Merely rotating the board back to the perpendicular position accomplishes the locking. FIGURE 2 shows the foot board 110 in its maximum extended position, at the extreme foot of the bed;

In the form of the foot board shown in FIGURES 12 and 13, the peripheral band 115 is eliminated. Side plates 131 are cut and formed at the inward end to form the hook 123, precisely as before described. The side plates 131 not only provide the end closures for the foot board member 110 but the in turned flanges 132 provide the support and the attachment for the foot board. The inward heels 133 of the reduced width flanges 134 abut against the top Webs of the horizontal members 54 in the same manner as the in turned portions 116 described above. In fact the manner of attachment, adjustment and holding of this form of foot board is like that described for the form shown in FIGURES and 11.

I claim:

1. A bed comprising an elongate frame opened at the foot end thereof, and having a head at the other end, said open end of said frame having a pair of leg housings secured thereto, movable legs within said housings adapted to reduce or restore the normal height of said frame, a mattress support pivotally mounted at the foot end of the middle section on said frame adjacent the foot thereof including a head section pivotally mounted to the middle section, a middle section, and a foot section, all pivotally connected together for movement as a unit about the support pivot and for movement relative to each other about their respective pivots in relation to the longitudinal axis of said frame, power means operably connecting each section to pivotally adjust each section with respect to the other, power means operably associated with said mattress support for pivotally adjusting said foot section alone or a a unit with the other sections downwardly in any position to substantially vertical position, lever means operably engaging the movable foot legs and operably connected to the foot section following the said pivotal movement of the foot section to lower the height of the foot end thereof whereby the foot end of said mattress support is substantially at floor level when said foot section is in a substantially vertical position,- and to return the said legs to the normal position upon returning the foot section to the horizontal position.

2. The bed of claim 1 in which the lever means operably contacting the movable front legs also operatively' connected with the foot section for following the said pivotal movement of the foot section, comprises bell crank means pivotably mounted on the side rails, one end of said crank engaging the upper end of said legs and the other end connected through linkage members to said foot section for movement therewith.

3. A bed comprising an elongated frame open at the foot end thereof, and having a head at the other end, said open end of said frame having a pair of vertically slotted leg housings secured thereto, said housings con taining legs adapted'to reduce or restore the normal height of said frame, a mattress support pivotally mounted at the foot end of the middle section on said frame adjacent the foot thereof including a head section pivotally mounted to the middle section, a middle section, and a foot section pivotally connected to the support pivot, all mounted together for movement relative to each other and to the longitudinal axis of said frame, separate conventional hydraulic means operably associated with said mattress support for pivotally moving said middle section, additional hydraulic means for moving said head section pivotably relative to said middle section, additional hydraulic means for pulling said foot section downwardly relative to said middle section, and lever means operably connecting the said pivotal movement of the foot section to the movable foot legs whereby the foot end of said mattress support is substantially at floor level when said foot section is in substantially vertical position, and to return the said legs to the normal position upon returning-the foot section to the horizontal position, said means connecting the pivotal movement of the foot section to the movable foot legs comprising bell crank means pivotally mounted on the side rails, one end of said crank extending through said slotted leg housings to engage the upper surface of said legs and the other connected through linkage members to said foot section for movement therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A BED COMPRISING AN ELONGATE FRAME OPENED AT THE FOOT END THEREOF, AND HAVING A HEAD AT THE OTHER END, SAID OPEN END OF SAID FRAME HAVING A PAIR OF LEG HOUSINGS SECURED THERETO, MOVABLE LEGS WITHIN SAID HOUSINGS ADAPTED TO REDUCE OR RESTORE THE NORMAL HEIGHT OF SAID FRAME, A MATTRESS SUPPORT PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT THE FOOT END OF THE MIDDLE SECTION ON SAID FRAME ADJACENT THE FOOT THEREOF INCLUDING A HEAD SECTION PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO THE MIDDLE SECTION, A MIDDLE SECTION, AND A FOOT SECTION, ALL PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TOGETHER FOR MOVEMENT AS A UNIT ABOUT THE SUPPORT PIVOT AND FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE PIVOTS IN RELATION TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID FRAME, POWER MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTING EACH SECTION TO PIVOTALLY ADJUST EACH SECTION WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER, POWER MEANS OPERABLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID MATTRESS SUPPORT FOR PIVOTALLY ADJUSTING SAID FOOT SECTION ALONE OR AS A UNIT WITH THE OTHER SECTIONS DOWNWARDLY IN ANY POSITION TO SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION, LEVER MEANS OPERABLY ENGAGING THE MOVABLE FOOT LEGS AND OPERABLY CONNECTED TO THE FOOT SECTION FOLLOWING THE SAID PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE FOOT SECTION TO LOWER THE HEIGHT OF THE FOOT END THEREOF WHEREBY THE FOOT END OF SAID MATTRESS SUPPORT IS SUBSTANTIALLY AT FLOOR LEVEL WHEN SAID FOOT SECTION IS IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION, AND TO RETURN THE SAID LEGS TO THE NORMAL POSITION UPON RETURNING THE FOOT SECTION TO THE HORIZONTAL POSITION. 